5 days ago
Abilene man gets 195 years for trafficking teen to multiple men
ABILENE, Texas () – An Abilene man has been sentenced to 195 years in prison after being found guilty of trafficking a runaway teenager to multiple men.
Six suspects indicted in connection to sex trafficking of runaway teen in Abilene
Juan Ortiz was arrested in October 2023 and charged with Trafficking of a Child. According to court documents, Ortiz picked up the teen in August 2023 and took her to a motel on South 1st Street, where he provided her with drugs and alcohol, before soliciting multiple male suspects to pay him to have sex with the teen while he filmed it.
Report: Two Abilene men involved in sex trafficking of runaway teen
Ortiz stood trial in the 104th District Court, where a jury found him guilty on all counts: Trafficking of a Child, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and two counts of Sexual Assault of a Child. He was sentenced to 80 years for trafficking, 75 years for aggravated sexual assault, and 20 years for each count of sexual assault. These sentences are to be served consecutively, resulting in a total of 195 years behind bars. Ortiz was also fined $20,000.
APD Youth Detective Clint Coapland, who helped secure the arrest of Ortiz several months ago, says, 'The jury's decision to impose a 195-year sentence on the defendant sends an unmistakable message: crimes against children will be met with the full force of justice. This sentence is not just a punishment, it is a powerful stand in defense of the most vulnerable members of our society.'
UPDATE: Abilene man accused of sex trafficking runaway teen to at least 4 predators
Five other men were also arrested in connection with the case: Derrick Bernard Harden Jr., Cristian Gomez, Rony Pineda-Zuniga, Immanuel Dan Brown and Darlin Zuniga.
Three of the suspects — Gomez, Pineda-Zuniga, and Zuniga — were found guilty of Solicitation of Prostitution. All sexual assault charges against them were waived, and they were each sentenced to two years in jail.
Harden and Brown are the only remaining suspects whose trial is still pending. Harden's court date is currently set for September 2025, and Brown's is set for August 2025.
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